The Opelousas courier., 1887-09-10
MINETTE,
IIda Whipple Benhan

Without a doubt Minette was the pref
test child in the Jacques founding hos
pital. So CHEEKY and bright was she tina
every n loved her, and after awhile tn
matron gave her the name of Sunette
For" she said, s'the little thing seem
to flood every place where she happens
to be with sunshine
One day, as the tiny girl sat on a littlo
circle of closely shavcn turf, where stood
a fine marble statue of Hebe that som
person had given to decorate the hospita.
grounds, singing as her habit was, at the
top of her voice, one of the physicians
came that way and asked:
"What is beneath you, my happy
baby"
"Grass, replied the child, promptly,
pulling her scant check skirt about her
dimpled knees; "or do you see a bug or
any creeping thingsn and she looked
about her uneasily.
Nothing of the kind, little one,' said
the young man, laughing, "What is be-
meath the grass2n
dirt is, !" said Minette, shutting her
rosy lips very tight. II know / saw
Paul, the gardener, plant a rose tree
Every good. What is beneath the
dirt?'
Don't know" and the rosy lips
pursed themselves in a puzzled express
sion.
Il will tell you, my small beauty
said the doctor, mysteriously. 1T is
China, and the people who live there
look like the pictures on madam's tea-set
and on the fre-screen in the old doctors
If you sing long enoughand loud
enough they will hear you and come,
bringing whatever you like best
81 would like best a mamma and
papa" The answer was at once forth
coming and the lips tightly closed.
land a wax doll and a kitten.n
No, my mamma and papa will get
what else / want. I shall sing for them"
aWell, | must say that, considering
the circumstances, you have very clear
ideas of parental responsibilities and
young man went laughing on his
way, laughing again as he paused d
moment at the hospital door to LISTEN
to Minette, who seemed to have tuned
her pipes anew in order to raise her
Chinese benefactors.
One morning a lady and gentleman
came in at the gate and walked about,
regarding the children playing
here and there. As usual, Minette was
the circular bit.of turf at the base of
he statue Of Hebe, for she supposed.
hat in that very spot China was beneath
Ter. She was singing a little P~rovencal
owe song, taught her by d p~roduce-ven-
Ter, and as the newcomers paused to
listen. she said:
aWil you please to teach me a song
hat / do not knowa'
ssYou will first have to sing me the
you know, my little girl, so that III
nay be sure Of teaching you one that
gu do not"
ssAnd will you stay to hear them all,n
asked Minette.
ST think 50, !" and the lady sat down id
garden chair in the shade Of d laurel
ush, and folded her hands to listen.
.Minette sang her very best, and she
on and on, until her power of voice
nd memory were a marvel to her
steners. At last, as she began the last i
her baby lullabys, the lady burst into /
Ears, and reckoning to her husband, /,
fho was pacing up and down the gravel .
ak near by, she said:
This is the child that I have set NV
cart upon. ] can be content with no
ther. Come here, little one, and We !
III be to you a father and mother /
Mr. and Mrs. Louis were the kindcst t
parents to the little foundling, and +
e proved herself to be a valuable sun 8
am u their home. All the people on s
9 estate loved the bright, cheerful, i
onghtfn young girl, and her life. vas i
useful as well as . happy one: &
When all the premises of her beautiful Il
Womanhood seemed surssf. {
aeh took from herin one week her i
ing fosterzpaFents, and then II beeame i
own that they had neglected. ID make ii
Dyisien for her support ..